Device for Sorting Items, in Particular Pharmaceutical Products Such as Tablets or the Like, Into Cavities of a Blister Web

ABSTRACT

A device for sorting pharmaceutical products such as tablets into cavities of a blister web has an endless sorting belt equipped with recesses. Two drive units drive the sorting belt by means of a deflecting gear. Depending on the orientation of the recesses in the sorting belt, the second drive unit generates oscillations that are oriented transversely in relation to the feed direction of the sorting belt. The device makes it possible for the degree to which the sorting belt is filled with tablets to be adapted or optimized in relation to the orientation of the recesses in the sorting belt.

PRIOR ART

The invention relates to a device for sorting items, in particular pharmaceutical products such as tablets or the like, into cavities of a blister web as generically defined by the preamble to claim 1.

A device of this kind is known from DE 103 46 841 A1. With the known device, tablets are loaded from a storage receptacle into recesses of a continuously driven sorting belt that is inclined in relation to the horizontal in a sorting region. In order to facilitate the sorting of tablets into the recesses of the sorting belt, the sorting belt is oscillated in its longitudinal direction. It is possible for an additional oscillation generator to also oscillate the sorting belt perpendicular to its longitudinal direction.

The known device has turned out to be very good at sorting tablets into recesses that extend essentially in the longitudinal direction of the sorting belt. There are, however, known pharmaceutical blister webs or blister packs in which elongated or oblong products are situated for example at a 45 degree angle or even transversely in relation to the longitudinal direction of the blister packs. Using corresponding sorting belts to fill this type of blister webs, from which the individual blister packs are then die-cut, has turned out to be relatively difficult with the known device, either resulting in unfilled recesses or requiring the provision of additional devices, for example refilling devices, to assure the complete filling of the sorting belt.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

The device according to the invention for sorting items, in particular pharmaceutical products such as tablets or the like, into cavities of a blister web, with the defining characteristics of claim 1, has the advantage over the prior art that it is also able to gently load the products into sorting belt recesses that extend in particular transversely or obliquely relation to the longitudinal or feed direction of the sorting belt. This is achieved according to the present invention essentially by means of an oscillation device that oscillates the sorting belt transversely in relation to its longitudinal direction.

Advantageous modifications of the device according to the invention for sorting items, in particular pharmaceutical products such as tablets or the like, into cavities of a blister web are disclosed in the dependent claims.

It is advantageous for both the oscillation generator drive unit and the advancing drive unit to exert their actions by means of one and the same deflecting roller of the sorting belt since this makes the device relatively compact. It is also particularly advantageous if the speeds of the oscillation generator and the advancing drive can be varied. In this case, it is possible to match the speeds of the two drive units to the arrangement of recesses in the sorting belt so as to permit a constantly high degree of filling. In particulars this permits an optimum adaptation even when the sorting belt is exchanged for one with a different arrangement of recesses. It is also advantageous to provide a format-dependent drive bushing. In this case, the device can be very easily adjusted and converted to different formats of blister packs, which, particularly in connection with the variable speed drive units for the oscillation device and the advancing device, permits a very large format range and a very large variety of possible variations of the recesses in the sorting belt.

DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and will be explained in greater detail in the subsequent description.

FIG. 1 shows a simplified longitudinal section through a device for sorting tablets into recesses of a sorting belt.

FIGS. 2 and 3 each show a perspective view of a section of a sorting belt to illustrate the different arrangements of recesses, and

FIG. 4 shows a section in the plane IV-IV in FIG. 1, in which the recesses in the sorting belt are oriented transversely in relation to its longitudinal direction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

The device 10 depicted in a simplified form in FIG. 1 serves to sort items, in particular pharmaceutical products such as tablets 1 or the like, into cavities 2 of an endless blister web 3. A Mister web 3 filled with tablets 1 in this way, after passing through the device 10, travels into a sealing station, not shown, in which the open side of the blister web 3 is sealed with a covering foil. Then the blister web 3 thus sealed is die-cut into individual blister packs that are then packaged individually or in groups in folding boxes.

The device 10 has an endless sorting belt 15 guided around three deflecting gears 12 to 14. The deflecting gears 12 to 14, which rotate counterclockwise, divide the sorting belt 15 into three segments 16 to 18. In the first segment 16, which is inclined in relation to the horizontal, the tablets 1 are sorted into recesses 20 of the sorting belt 15. The first segment 16 is followed by the second segment 17, which is situated perpendicular to the blister web 3. In the subsequent third segment 18, which extends parallel to and spaced slightly apart from the blister web 3, the tablets 1 drop from the recesses 20 of the sorting belt 15 into the cavities 2 of the blister web 3.

The second segment 17 is encompassed by a guard plate 22 that is placed in close proximity to the sorting belt 15 and prevents the tablets 1 from falling out of the recesses 20 in the segment 17 as the sorting belt 15 travels in the direction of the arrow 23.

A storage and dispensing device 25 that stores the tablets 1 in loose form is situated above the sorting belt 15 in the region of the first segment 16. In the exit region 26 of the storage and dispensing device 25, the tablets 1 are dispensed onto the top of the sorting belt 15 in order to sort them into the recesses 20 as the sorting belt 15 passes by. In order to prevent the tablets 1 on the sorting belt 15 from falling out laterally, side plates, not shown, that are situated very close to the sorting belt 15 are provided to the sides of the sorting belt 15, at least in the region upstream of the storage and dispensing device 25.

The sorting belt 15 is preferably comprised of thermoformable material into which are formed the recesses 20 and, at the edge regions of the sorting belt 15 in its longitudinal direction, drive cams 28 which are only visible in FIGS. 2 to 4. The drive cams 28 cooperate with teeth 29 on the deflecting gears 12 to 14 to permit a form-locked, frictionally engaging transport of the sorting belt 15.

In the sorting belt 15 shown in FIG. 1, the recesses 20 are embodied as elongated, with the long side of the recesses 20 extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the sorting belt 15. The elongated design of the recesses 20 is adapted to the elongated or oblong form of the tablets 1 in order to permit a form-fitting accommodation of the tablets 1 in the recesses 20.

In the detail of the sorting belt 15 a shown in FIG. 2, though, the recesses 20 a are inclined at an angle α of for example 45 degrees in relation to the longitudinal span of the sorting belt 15 a. In FIG. 3, the recesses 20 b of the sorting belt 15 b are aligned transversely in relation to the longitudinal span of the sorting belt 15 b. The respective orientation of the recesses 20, 20 a, and 20 b is aligned with the arrangement of the cavities 2 in the blister web 3, since the recesses 20, 20 a, and 20 b must coincide with the cavities 2 in the segment 18 in order to transfer the tablets 1 into them.

In the exemplary embodiment, the sorting belt 15 is driven via the one deflecting gear 12, the design and driving of which are shown in greater detail in FIG. 4. The deflecting gear 12 has a formatting sleeve 31 that has raised areas 29 in its two edge regions at the ends, which cooperate with the drive cams 28 of the sorting belt 15. Two rotating supporting pins 34 and 35 are provided between the ends of the formatting sleeve 11 and support the sorting belt 15 in the region between the recesses 20, thus preventing the sorting belt 15 from sagging. A threaded ring 36 secures the formatting sleeve 31 so that it cannot rotate in relation to an intermediate bushing 37. Two rotating ball liners 38 support the intermediate bushing 37 so that it can move radially and axially on a stationary axle 40. The sorting belt 15 is driven in the advancing direction, i.e. in the direction of the arrow 23 according to FIG. 1, by means of a first drive unit 42, which is particularly embodied in the form of a servomotor. The first drive unit 42 acts via a toothed belt 43 on a toothed belt pulley 44, which is attached to the intermediate bushing 37 so as to prevent relative rotation between the two.

The first drive unit 42 moves the sorting belt 15 either continuously or cyclically in accordance with the advancing motion of the blister web 3; this continuous or cyclical advancing can be overlaid with longitudinal oscillations of the sorting belt 15 of relatively low amplitudes (compared to the size of the recesses 20), which facilitates, in particular, the sorting of tablets 1 into the cavities 2 even when these extend in the longitudinal direction of the sorting belt 15.

In order to improve the sorting of the tablets 1 into recesses 20 a or 20 b, which extend at least partially in an orientation transverse to the advancing direction or longitudinal direction of the sorting belt 15 a or 15 b, the device 10 has a second drive unit 46 likewise preferably embodied in the form of a servomotor, which makes it possible to move the sorting belt 15, 15 a, or 15 b transversely in relation to the advancing direction of the sorting belt 15, 15 a, or 15 b, i.e. perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 1. This movement occurs in the form of regular or irregular oscillations, which are imparted to the sorting belt 15, 15 a, or 15 b by means of the second drive unit 46. To this end, the second drive unit 46 is connected to a toothed belt 47 that acts on a toothed belt pulley 48. The toothed belt pulley 48 is situated on the side of the toothed belt pulley 44 oriented away from the formatting sleeve 31. A bearing flange 49 and ball bearings 51, 52 support the toothed belt pulley 48 so that it can rotate on the axle 40, but cannot move in the longitudinal direction of the axle 40. Two cam rollers 53 and 54 that are offset from each other by 180° are situated on the inside of the cup-shaped bearing flange 49. On the side oriented toward the formatting sleeve 31, the cam rollers 53, 54 cooperate with a cam plate 55 that has a cam track 56 on the side oriented toward the cam rollers 53, 54. The cam track 56 has a form that is adapted in accordance with the desired movement, i.e. can generate a longitudinal motion in the direction of the axle 40 as the cam rollers 53, 54 roll along the cam track 56.

An annular diaphragm 57 secures the cam plate 55 to the intermediate bushing 37 in a way that prevents the two parts from rotating in relation to each other, but allows the cam plate 55 to pivot slightly in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the axle 40 by a slight angle in relation to the axle 40. On the side oriented toward the formatting sleeve 31, the cam plate 55 rests against the end surface 60 of a spherical washer 62, whose side oriented toward the formatting sleeve 31 is in turn supported in a corresponding recess 63 of the intermediate bushing 37.

A movement that the second drive unit 46 transmits to the toothed belt pulley 48 causes the cam rollers 53 and 54 to roll along the cam plate 55 or the cam track 56. The form of the cam track 56 causes it to impart a movement in the longitudinal direction of the axle 40 to the intermediate bushing 37 and therefore to the formatting sleeve 31, causing the sorting belt 15, 15 a, or 15 b to oscillate transversely in relation to its advancing direction.

In accordance with the precise arrangement of the recesses 20, 20 a, and 20 b in the sorting belt 15, 15 a, and 115 b, the speeds of the two drive units 42 and 46 can coincide in such a way that with an arrangement of recesses 20 in the longitudinal direction of the sorting belt 15 according to FIG. 17 the speed of the second drive unit 46 can be selected to be synchronous with the speed of the first drive unit 42. As a result, the cam rollers 53 and 54 are situated at the same respective point on the cam track 56 of the cam plate 55 so that no transverse oscillations are transmitted to the sorting belt 15. Depending on the arrangement of the recesses 20 a or 20 b in the sorting belt 15 a or 15 b, the drive speed of the second drive unit 46 can be varied so that as the orientation of the recesses 20 a or 20 b becomes more markedly transverse, the drive speed is increased in order to facilitate or improve a sorting of tablets 1 into the recesses 20 a or 20 b.

The device 10 described above can be modified or altered in numerous ways. It would in particular be conceivable for the advancing drive unit for the sorting belt 15, 15 a, or 15 b to exert its action via a different deflecting gear 12 to 14 than the one that transmits the oscillation transverse to the longitudinal direction of the sorting belt 15, 15 a, or 15 b. The only requirement is for the oscillations to act on the sorting belt 15, 15 a, or 15 b in the same region that the tablets 1 are sorted into the recesses 20, 20 a, 20 b. 

1-8. (canceled)
 9. A device for sorting items, in particular pharmaceutical products such as tablets or the like, into cavities of a blister webs the device comprising, a storage receptacles for items to be sorted, a plurality of deflecting rollers, means driving at least one of the deflecting rollers, a sorting belt guided around and driven by the deflecting rollers, the guide belt having recesses into which the items stored in the storage receptacle are sorted in order to then be dispensed from the recesses into the cavities of the blister web as the sorting belt travels further, and an oscillation device operable to impart oscillations to the sorting belt in a direction oriented transversely in relation to its advancing direction at least in the region in which the items are sorted into the recesses of the sorting belt.
 10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the oscillation device is coupled to one of the deflecting rollers, which deflecting roller also serves to advance the sorting belt in the advancing direction.
 11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the oscillation device comprises a bearing sleeve operable to move on an axle in the rotary and axial directions, and a cam element cooperating with the bearing sleeve in order to generate the oscillations in the longitudinal direction of the axle.
 12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the oscillation device comprises a bearing sleeve operable to move on an axle in the rotary and axial directions, and a cam element cooperating with the bearing sleeve in order to generate the oscillations in the longitudinal direction of the axle.
 13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the cam element is supported on the axle in pivoting fashion.
 14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the cam element is supported on the axle in pivoting fashion.
 15. The device according to claim 13, wherein the pivoting support of the cam element comprises by an annular diaphragm attached along the circumference of the cam element and coupled to the bearing sleeve.
 16. The device according to claim 14, wherein the pivoting support of the cam element comprises by an annular diaphragm attached along the circumference of the cam element and coupled to the bearing sleeve.
 17. The device according to claim 15, further comprising a spherical washer coupled to the cam element, the spherical washer being mounted on the axle supported it so that it is able to pivot three-dimensionally in a recess of the bearing sleeve.
 18. The device according to claim 16, further comprising a spherical washer coupled to the cam element, the spherical washer being mounted on the axle supported it so that it is able to pivot three-dimensionally in a recess of the bearing sleeve.
 19. The device according to claim 11, wherein the bearing sleeve is coupled via a belt pulley to a first drive unit for generating the advancing motion, wherein the oscillation device has a second drive unit for generating the oscillation, and wherein the speeds of the two drive units can be varied in relation to each other.
 20. The device according to claim 13, wherein the bearing sleeve is coupled via a belt pulley to a first drive unit for generating the advancing motion, wherein the oscillation device has a second drive unit for generating the oscillation, and wherein the speeds of the two drive units can be varied in relation to each other.
 21. The device according to claim 15, wherein the bearing sleeve is coupled via a belt pulley to a first drive unit for generating the advancing motion, wherein the oscillation device has a second drive unit for generating the oscillation, and wherein the speeds of the two drive units can be varied in relation to each other.
 22. The device according to claim 17, wherein the bearing sleeve is coupled via a belt pulley to a first drive unit for generating the advancing motion, wherein the oscillation device has a second drive unit for generating the oscillation, and wherein the speeds of the two drive units can be varied in relation to each other.
 23. The device according to claim 9, further comprising a drive sleeve encompassing the bearing sleeve, the drive sleeve being adapted to the format of the sorting belt and being attached to the bearing sleeve in such a way as to prevent relative movement between the two parts.
 24. The device according to claim 10, further comprising a drive sleeve encompassing the bearing sleeve the drive sleeve being adapted to the format of the sorting belt and being attached to the bearing sleeve in such a way as to prevent relative movement between the two parts.
 25. The device according to claim 11, further comprising a drive sleeve encompassing the bearing sleeve the drive sleeve being adapted to the format of the sorting belt and being attached to the bearing sleeve in such a way as to prevent relative movement between the two parts.
 26. The device according to claim 13, further comprising a drive sleeve encompassing the bearing sleeve the drive sleeve being adapted to the format of the sorting belt and being attached to the bearing sleeve in such a way as to prevent relative movement between the two parts.
 27. The device according to claim 15, further comprising a drive sleeve encompassing the bearing sleeve the drive sleeve being adapted to the format of the sorting belt and being attached to the bearing sleeve in such a way as to prevent relative movement between the two parts.
 28. The device according to claim 17, further comprising a drive sleeve encompassing the bearing sleeve the drive sleeve being adapted to the format of the sorting belt and being attached to the bearing sleeve in such a way as to prevent relative movement between the two parts. 